Energy projects in three local cities are among 17 slated to receive $24 million in funding from the province.

In Guelph, Canadian Solar will use government funding to look at how renewable energy resources can be integrated in communities across Ontario.

In Woodstock, funding to eCAMION will allow for a new microgrid to handle some residential and commercial power loads.

And in Cambridge, where Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli made the $1.7-million funding announcement Thursday, a new program will automatically monitor parts of the Cambridge-North Dumfries Hydro power grid.

“Ontario is seen as a global hub for smart grid innovation,” Chiarelli said in Cambridge.

“We’re pioneering technology and exporting our expertise to the rest of the world.”

The services in Cambridge will be provided by Grid 20/20, a North America-wide provider of intra-grid sensors.

The province’s $24 million will be matched by $54 million in funding from the energy sector.